Detergent dispensing apparatus



April 4, 1967 B. J. GRACEMAN ETAL ADETERGENT DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1965 United States Patent O 3,312,235 DETERGENT DISPENSHNG APPARATUS Barry I. Gracema-n and Lennart L. Johnson, Minneapolis,

Minn., assignors to Grace-Lee Products Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.

Filed Feb. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 434,242 2 Claims. (Cl. 137 268) The herein disclosed invention relates to detergent dispensing apparatus and has for an object to provide apparatus by means of which detergent in dry divided form may be dissolved in water and dispensed in solution.

An object of the invention resides in providing apparatus whereby the detergent may be dissolved without removal from the drums in which it is sold.

A still further object of the invention resides in utilizing the two bung holes of the dr-um for the inlet of water to the detergent and for the discharge of the solution therefrom.

An object of the invention resides in providing the tube with a nozzle at the lower end of the tube having openings extending in several directions.

A still further object of the invention resides in utilizing cylindrical drums having the bung holes diametrically disposed in spaced relation on opposite sides of the drum and in constructing the nozzle with a hole facing the juxtaposed portion of the annular wall structure of the drum and with several holes facing other portions of the annular wall structure.

An object of the invention resides in `removing the solul tion from the drum through the other bung hole at the top of the drum.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing bungs attached to the water inlet tube and to the discharge device Ifor closing the bungs and permitting the water to be introduced in the drum under pressure.

Another object of the invention resides in providing means for diluting the solution and means for heating the diluted solution.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel cornbination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/ or described.

In the drawings:

. FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a detergent dispensing apparatus illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the nozzle of the invention viewed from one side thereof. p

FIG. 3 is a view of the nozzle viewed from the opposite side thereof.

FIG. 4 is an elevational View similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 taken at right angles thereto.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 2 and drawn to a greater scale.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 5 taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 5 and drawn to the same scale.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 7 7 of FIG. l and drawri to a greater scale.

Detergents when sold to users who require large quantities, such as concerns who wash automobiles, the de- -tergent is in powered or flake form and is usually contained in metal drums. One such drum is shown in FIG. 1 and is indicated by the reference numeral 10. This drum is constructed of metal and is cylindrical in form having a top 11, a bottom 12 and a circumferential wall structure 13 attached to said top and bottom. In the top are two holes 14 and 15 in which are disposed two collars 16 and 17 welded or otherwise secured to said top. These collars are drilled and tapped to form bung holes 1S and 19 extending therethrough. The detergent when lilled in the drum is in powered or aked form and is inserted through one of the bung holes 18'or 19, the air in the drum escaping through the other bung vrs ICC

hole. When the proper amount of detergent is in the drum, the bung holes are closed by means of bungs not shown and shipped to the customer in such condition.

The invention utilizes a feed device 20` for feeding water into the drum 10' and which consists of a fitting 21 having a passageway therethrough. This fitting is best shown in FIG. 7 and has a collar 22 knurled on the exterior as indicated at 23 to permit of manually rotating the same. Extending downwardly from the collar 22 is a threaded bung 24 adapted to screw into the threaded bung hole 18 or 19. In the drawings, the bung 24 has been shown as screwed into the bung Ihole 18. Between the face 25 of the collar 16 and the collar 22 is a gasket 26. Rotatably mounted in a socket 27 formed in the collar 22 is a sleeve 28 having a flange 29 extending outwardly therefrom and overlying the bottom 31 of socket 27. For holding the sleeve 28 in position, a retaining ring 33 is employed which has a recess 34 therein receiving the llange 29. This ring is received in the socket 27 and rests on the bottom 31 thereof and is held in position by means of screws 35. A wavy annular spring 32 is disposed between the flange 29 and the ring 33 and urges the flange 29 downwardly. The sleeve 28 is formed at its outer end with threads 36. If desired, an annular gasket 37 may be placed between the flange 29 and the bottom 31 of collar 22. By means of this construction a swivel joint is formed between the sleeve 2S and the bung 24. The sleeve 28 has attached to it a tube 41 which is received in a .recess 42 yformed in said sleeve and which extends down to the bottom 12 of the drum.

At the lower end of the tube 41 is provided a nozzle 43 shown in detail in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and which is constructed by llattening the extreme end portion 44 of the tube and welding the same together. `In the end of said tube is drilled a number of holes 45 in one side of the nozzle and a lesser number of holes in the opposite side of the nozzle, one such hole 46 being shown. Some of the holes 45'are arranged on the curved portion 47 of the nozzle and direct the water from the nozzle in fan shaped formation.

A threaded boss 51 on a reducing Valve 52 of ordinary construction is screwed on the threaded sleeve 28. This valve has an inlet 53 and to which is connected a pipe 54. This pipe has a section of flexible hose 55 connected to it and which in turn is `connected to another pipe 56 which is connected to a water supply pipe 57 by means of a T 58. A shut-off valve 59 is located in the pipe 56. The valve 52 has a hand wheel 69 by means of which the pressure of the water entering drum 10 may be lowered so as not to bulge the head and bottom of the drum. A gauge 48 attached to valve 52 indicates the proper pressure at which the invention should be operated. In the pipe 56 is provided a T 81 which has connected t'o it a pipe 79. This pipe is connected to a source of air under pressure and has in it a shut-olf valve 78.

Operating in conjunction with the feed device 20 is a discharge device 60. This device includes a fitting 61 with an opening extending therethrough. This fitting is identical with the fitting 21 and will not be described again, the same reference numerals being used to identify the corresponding parts. The bung 24 on collar 22 thereof is screwed into the bung hole 19 in collar 17. In the discharge device there is no tube 41, the detergent solution passing directly through the fitting. The dis` charge device 60 includes a manifold 62 which has a threaded boss 63 screwed on the sleeve 28 of fitting 61.v This manifold has threaded bosses 64 and 65 which receive pipes 66 and 67. These pipes have attached to them lengths of hose 71 and 72 which in turn are connected to other pipes 73 and 74. The pipes 73 and 74 have disposed in them shut-oil valves 75 and 76.

The operation of the invention so far described is as follows: In starting the apparatus, a fresh drum of deter y gent is employed and the two bungs normally closing the bung holes 18 and 19 are removed. Tube 41 is then inserted into the drum through one of the bung holes which has been shown in the drawings as bung hole 18. The tube is then pushed down toward the bottom of the drum and at the same time the bung 24 of fitting 21 is screwed into the bung hole 13. The face of the nozzle 43 having the holes 45 in its faces in the same direction as the pipe 54 so that the same may be properly positioned in the drum by holding s-aid pipe facing in the direction of collar 17. The collar 22 is then rotated until the same is fully screwed in and the fitting 21 in place; fitting 61 is then similarly applied. The device is now ready for use. Upon opening valves 59 and 75, water ows into the drum through nozzle 43 and is sprayed throughout the lowermost portion of the detergent and the detergent dissolved by the water. When the solution becomes concentrated, the same rises through the upper portion of the detergent and finally passes through fitting 61 and pipe 65 and is discharged therefrom. As the detergent is dissolved the remaining detergent sinks to the bottom of the drum where the same is subject to solution by the incoming fresh water. This occurs as long as there is any undissolved material in the drum. When there is no longer any undissolved detergent in the drum, the drum is inverted or laid on its side with the fitting 61 lowermost and the valve 59 closed. Air under pressure is now directed into the drum through pipe 79 by opening valve 78 and the remaining portion of the saturated solution drained therefrom.

Concentrated solution of detergent is discharged from the pipe 66 through valve 75 and through a pipe 82 into a float valve 83. This valve discharges into a receptacle 84 and maintains a certain height of concentrated solution in said receptacle.

To prepare the detergent solution for use, the concentrated solution must be diluted. For this purpose, another receptacle 85 is employed which has a float valve 86 associated with it. A pipe 87 is connected to a T 5S in pipe 57 and to the fioat valve 86 and has in it a shutolf valve 88. Valve 86 maintains a certain height of water in the receptacle 85. Water is drawn from the receptacle through a pipe 91 by means of a pump 92 which delivers it to an outlet pipe 93 at a fixed rate of discharge. Detergent solution is drawn through a pipe 94 from receptacle 84 through a pump 9S to a metering valve 96 which discharges it into pipe 93.

In using the detergent for most purposes, the final diluted mixture should be heated. For this purpose a heater 9i) is employed which has a case 97 with a coil 98 in the same and a burner 99 associated therewith. Pipe 95 is connected to the lower end of coil 93 and au outlet pipe 89 is connected to the upper end of said coil. With this construction heated detergent solution of any degree of dilution may be procured.

For determining the amount of detergent in the drum,

a gauge rod 39 is employed which is inserted through an opening in a boss 40 on the manifold 62. A cap 50 screwed on said boss closes the opening therethrough.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The solution may be made while the detergent is still in the drum. The former procedure of dishing out small quantities from the drum and placing the same in a basket of a mixing reservoir is entirely prevented, making it simple and easy to prepare the final'solution. The drum serves as part of the apparatus already used thus economizing in the building and installing of the apparatus.

With the 'present invention, a continuous supply of uni- 79 form solution is had which lasts many times longer than with the methods now in use. At the same time solu- 4' tions of predetermined dilution are procured and which are uniform as long as detergent remains in the drum.

Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A detergent dispensing apparatus comprising:

(a) a drum containing a water soluble detergent having a top, a bottom and an enclosing wall structure therebetween,

(b) spaced bung holes in said top,

(c) a tube insertable into one of said bung holes and extending substantially to said bottom,

(d) means on said tube for closing said bung hole,

(e) a nozzle at the lower end of said tube and having a transversely disposed opening,

(f) means for directing water under pressure into said tube,

(g) means for discharging the dissolved detergent through the other bung hole and including (h) -a reservoir for the detergent solution,

(i) a iioat valve associated with said reservoir,

(j) means for discharging the dissolved detergent into said reservoir through said oat valve,

(k) a heater,

(l) means for directing a metered flow of water into said heater and (m) means for directing a metered flow of dissolved detergent into said water before it reaches said heater.

Y2. A detergent dispensing apparatus comprising:

(a) a drum containing a water soluble detergent having a top, a bottom and an enclosing wall structure therebetween,

(b) spaced bung holes in said top,

(c) a tube insertable into one of said bung holes and extending substantially to said bottom,

(d) means on said tube for closing said bung hole,

(e) a nozzle yat the lower end of said tube and having a transversely disposed opening,

(f) means for directing water under pressure into said tube, 4

(g) means for discharging the dissolved detergent through the other bung hole and including,

(h) a reservoir for the detergent solution,

(i) a oat valve associated with said reservoir,

(j) means for discharging the dissolved detergent into said reservoir through said oat valve,

(k) a heater,

(l) a second reservoir for water,

(m) a float valve associated with said second reservoir and maintaining water in said reservoir,

(n) a pump drawing water from said water reservoir and running it through said heater,

(o) a reservoir for the detergent solution,

(p) a float valve associated with said detergent reservoir,

(q) a pump drawing dissolved detergent from said detergent reservoir and discharging it into said water before it reaches the heater,

(r) and means for discharging the heated mixture from the heater.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1950 Boerstra 259-95 X 4/1966 Stilwell 137-592 

2. A DETERGENT DISPENSING APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) A DRUM CONTAINING A WATER SOLUBLE COMPRISING: ING A TOP, A BOTTOM AND AN ENCLOSING WALL STRUCTURE THEREBETWEEN, (B) SPEED BUNG HOLES IN SAID TOP, (C) A TUBE INSERTABLE INTO ONE OF SAID BUNG HOLES AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY TO SAID BOTTOM, (D) MEANS ON SAID TUBE FOR CLOSING SAID BUNG HOLE, (E) A NOZZLE AT THE LOWER END OF SAID TUBE AND HAVING A TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED OPENING, (F) MEANS FOR DIRECTING WATER UNDER PRESSURE INTO SAID TUBE, (G) MEANS FOR DISCHARGING THE DISSOLVED DETERGENT THROUGH THE OTHER BUNG HOLE AND INCLUDING (H) A RESERVOIR FOR THE DETERGENT SOLUTION, (I) A FLOAT VALVE ASSOCIATED WITH SAID RESERVOIR, (J) MEANS FOR DISCHARGING THE DISSOLVED DETERGENT INTO SAID RESERVOIR THROUGH SAID FLOAT VALVE, 